Congressional Newsletters

RAND Congressional newsletters and alerts highlight our research on the most relevant issues in the public policy debate. See the most recent issues below.

Homeland Security
Countering Coercion in Cyberspace, Terrorism Prevention, Opioids at the Border, and More
Jan 17, 2020
RAND experts have testified and answered questions for staff on a variety of homeland security topics in recent years, including terrorism prevention, fentanyl flows into the United States, and Coast Guard workforce issues.
Public Health
Health Care Issues in 2020
Jan 14, 2020
What are some of the health care issues at the forefront of the congressional agenda in 2020? RAND experts offer up insight on a variety of topics, including the opioid crisis, drug pricing, delivery of care, and more.
Opioids
In Case You Missed It: Approaching the U.S. Opioid Crisis as an Ecosystem
Jan 9, 2020
RAND's Bradley Stein explains why we should approach the opioid crisis as an ecosystem instead of focusing on individual areas. He says employing a broader view of the crisis will help those confronting it better prepare for the challenges ahead.
Infrastructure
Planning and Funding Resilient Infrastructure
Dec 18, 2019
RAND's Debra Knopman and Sarah Weilant discuss the importance of incorporating resilience in infrastructure planning. They outline three areas where the federal government could be making a difference.
Medicare
What are the Potential Effects of Medicare Buy-In?
Dec 5, 2019
Using RAND's COMPARE microsimulation model, researchers found that a Medicare buy-in proposal could offer significantly more-affordable coverage to older adults but might also lead to higher premiums for some people remaining on the individual market.
Military Families
What Are the Biggest Challenges Facing Army Families?
Nov 21, 2019
RAND surveyed more than 8,500 Army spouses on common military service challenges and their solutions. The analysis found that spouses most frequently rate work-life balance, military practices and culture, and their own well-being as their top problem areas.
Cyber Warfare
How Do Russia and China Engage in Social Manipulation?
Oct 29, 2019
U.S. competitors such as Russia and China engage in hostile social manipulation—the use of informational means to manipulate political, social, and economic conditions.
Health Care Costs
The Promise and Peril of Offshoring Prescription Drug Pricing
Oct 28, 2019
The President, Congress, and most Americans agree prescription drug prices are too high. After years of drug price and spending growth, 2019 has so far seen an explosion of policy proposals from both parties that could promise some relief.
Workforce Development
The U.S. Workforce Development and Employment System Needs an Overhaul
Oct 10, 2019
The American workplace has changed profoundly over the past 40 years and continues to evolve. RAND researchers recently took a systems approach to rethinking the nation's workforce development and employment system.
Russia
In Case You Missed It: Extending Russia
Oct 8, 2019
Former Ambassador James Dobbins, Raphael Cohen, and Howard Shatz discuss Russia's economic, political, and military vulnerabilities and anxieties. What are some ways the United States can impose costs on Russia?
Opioids
In Case You Missed It: Preparing for the Future of Fentanyl
Sep 30, 2019
In this congressional briefing, Bryce Pardo and Beau Kilmer discuss factors that have contributed to the rise of synthetic opioids like fentanyl in the U.S. What do policymakers need to consider in their efforts to address this threat in the United States?
Security Cooperation
What Are the Implications of Deepening Security Cooperation in Asia?
Sep 27, 2019
Since the turn of the century, key U.S. allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific have been establishing or deepening their defense ties. These new linkages and security commitments among regional actors have substantial implications for the United States, China, and the Indo-Pacific region.